State receives money to improve look of communities

WASHINGTON — The fight against blight in Michigan has received a big boost from the federal government.

With help from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, Senator Debbie Stabenow announced this morning that the state will receive $168 million in grant money towards blight removal.

So far this year, the state has received $260 million in blight removal funding.

“The amount that we’re announcing today was based on competition, what’s being done, the quality of the project, the quality of the work that’s being done in communities in Michigan,” said Sen. Debbie Stabenow. “We’re really proud that Michigan ranks at the top,” she added when it comes to funding blight projects across the country.

“This means a lot of money for our state to deal with a really significant problem,” said U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee (D–Flint). “As significant as these financial resources are, it’s what they mean on the ground to the communities that will be helped that’s most significant.”

Stabenow added that communities across the state should be able to apply for the grant money through MSHDA in the next six to eight weeks.